In
Megilas Esther
(4:4) it is written,”
Vatishlach begadim lihalbish es Mordechai
etc.’ “Esther sent clothing to dress Mordechai’’. Preceding this occurrence the Megilah tells us that word had reached Mordechai about Haman’s evil designs against the
Yidden.
Upon hearingthis terrible news he rent his clothing and donned sackcloth as is the
minhag
upon receiving sad, tragic tidings. When Esther was told that Mordechai had donned sackcloth, she immediately sent him fresh clothing to change into.
The
heilige Tiferes Shlomo
asked what was the purpose in Esther’s sending a fresh set of clothing to Mordechai? She, certainly, knew that Mordechai was not lacking decent clothing! Surely, if he would have been compelled to change into new clothing, he would have seen fit to tear the new set of clothing for the exact same reason that he saw fit to rip the original set due to pain and sadness?
Reb Shlomo Radomsker explains that there was a difference of opinion between Mordechai and Esther as to the best method to awaken
Hashem’
s sympathy to the plight of the
Yidden
. Mordechai believed that by sharing the pain of the
Shechina
floundering in exile, the redemption would develop and progress. Partaking in the
tzaar
of the
Shechina,
was expressed, by the tearingof his clothing and the donning of sackcloth.
Esther’s message was, that although it is certainly praiseworthy, and even required to empathize with the pain of the
Shechina,
this would not be sufficient to awaken that desperately needed salvation. In order to awaken heavenly compassion, and to return the
Shechina
into their midst, an abundance of
simcha
was necessary.
Chazal
teach us
“Ein haShechina shoreh ela mitoch simcha”; “The Shechina only dwells in an atmosphere of simcha”.
The required setting for the
Shechina
is only, where there is happiness and where joy is flourishing. Depression distances
Hashem’s
company. Donning sackcloth is the antithesis of
simcha
. This was Esther’s message when sending clothing to Mordechai.
Towards the end of the
Megilah,
after Haman and his sons were hanged and Esther was bequeathed Haman’s house, Esther convinced Achashveirosh to issue a new set of letters, authorizing the
Yidden
to defend themselves, against the impending onslaught on the thirteenth of Adar. At this juncture, the
Megilah
writes that Mordechai appeared in public, dressed in royal garments. The Possuk tells us that the reaction to his majestic appearance in honorable garb was “
Vihair Shushan tzahala visamecha
”; “And the city of Shushan was inundated with
simcha
”. There is an obvious connection between the mode of dress of Mordechai to the elation of the
Yidden
upon seeing Mordechai in his regal dress. Mordechai’s garb generated jubilance and the inhabitants of Shushan rejoiced even more, thus, ushering in the
Shechina
and the initial sparks of
geula.
Esther felt that donning sackcloth would further distance the
Shechina
and in effect, despair of the
geula
. By outwardly maintaining composure and not demonstrating noticeable despair, the
Shechina
would feel comfortable making its return. Esther felt that viewing Mordechai in a state of despondency would be counterproductive.
The requirement to enjoy
simcha
on Purim is unlike any other Yom Tov that obligates
simcha.
On every other
Yom Tov
, one may not mix a different
simcha
together with the
simcha
of
Yom Tov,
whereas, on Purim anything that prompts
simcha
is considered a fulfillment of
simchas Purim.
This is
because we are required to create an atmosphere to bring
Shechinah
and that happens when there is a general state of happiness. Purim we are granted myriad opportunities to engage in activities that engender
simcha
. Let us use these special days to create a permanent abode for the
Shechina
and to make Him feel at home.
